04/20/24
August 18, 2008
Bolt wins Olympic 100m and breaks the world record: Michael Johnson can't believe what he's watching. The best bit? He didn't even bother to tie both of his shoelaces.
You know, my reaction wasn't that dissimilar to Michael Johnson's. An unbelievable run.
posted by salmacis at 04:25 AM on August 18, 2008
The announcer said that by sticking his arms out to his side and looking at the crowd he possibly added .10 to his time.
I wonder what it could have been had he leaned and pushed it the last 10 meters.
posted by sportsblitz at 05:09 AM on August 18, 2008
Had he:
1) Tied both shoelaces 2) Kept pumping his arms 3) Not beaten his chest, and 4) Leaned
He could have knocked two tenths off that.
He said afterwards he hadn't really noticed the time until he finished his victory lap and that the world record wasn't important to him, just the gold medal.
TV broadcasters couldn't fit in any commercials
Loving the BBC's lack of any commercials whatsoever!
posted by JJ at 07:54 AM on August 18, 2008
It was an amazing run. I'm still a little cranky that he didn't give us his best. I want to know what he could have done.
A guy from Florida State won the bronze.
posted by bperk at 10:07 AM on August 18, 2008
posted by catfish at 12:18 PM on August 18, 2008
catfish, your link's dead.
Agreed with all above, although the bit about his shoelaces could have been quite fun. Think what would've happened had he tripped during that glorious victory jog after the race. Much hilarity.
posted by boredom_08 at 01:03 PM on August 18, 2008
catfish, your link's dead.
Agreed with all above, although the bit about his shoelaces could have been quite fun. Think what would've happened had he tripped during that glorious victory jog after the race. Much hilarity.
posted by boredom_08 at 01:03 PM on August 18, 2008
Congrats to Bolt. He seems to have an "overdrive" gear that no one else had. I too, would've liked to see his time without the celebrating and shoelace being untied, but a WR none the less.
Great Olympics so far, except for that injury during the weightlifting. That was not cool.
posted by BoKnows at 01:37 PM on August 18, 2008
The final was fun, but my favorite was his jogging through the heats and semifinals. Seriously, in the heats he would shut it down at about 30 meters and in the semifinals about 60 meters in. Either way, he still would win easily.
Anyone got a link to the prelims? He completely embarrassed the rest of the field.
posted by dusted at 02:12 PM on August 18, 2008
I didn't get to watch this live, as I've tried to do for every 100m final since '84, but I gotta say, even on the replay, I was AMAZED.
That bit about his shoelace bein' untied only adds to the amazement of what he did. re: shutting down so far out from the line (remember, the same speculation surrounded Ben Johnson's fist raising before the finish line back in '88) ... let me just say this, he set a new WR and OR in that race ... so to heck with "giving us his all" ... he blew away the competition. 'nough said.
What a spectacular feat. My hat is tipped to this phenomenal athlete.
posted by Spitztengle at 03:26 PM on August 18, 2008
BOLT. Was there a more aptly-named athlete?
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:11 PM on August 18, 2008
HeHateMe?
posted by BoKnows at 07:18 PM on August 18, 2008
And it looks like he's about to do the same thing with the 200m.
posted by NoMich at 10:53 PM on August 18, 2008
Amazing. I read that his pre-race preperation included sleeping in, skipping breakfast, watching TV, McNuggets for lunch, a three hour nap, and some more McNuggets before the race.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:03 PM on August 18, 2008
The other best bit was that, because of the world record time, the TV broadcasters couldn't fit in any commercials during the race.